Early childhood education and care services

The parents or guardians of the child decide whether or not their child participates in early childhood education and care.

A client fee is charged for early childhood education and care organised by local authorities. The size of the fee depends on family size, income and the number of hours that the child takes part in early childhood education and care.

The prices for private early childhood education and care are determined by the service provider, and a family can receive a private childcare allowance to help cover these costs.

Pre-primary education is provided free of charge.

Children's right to early childhood education and care

The right of children to early childhood education and care (ECEC) and the objectives for ECEC are laid down in the Act on Early Childhood Education and Care (540/2018).

Local authorities are responsible for ensuring that early childhood education and care is available to their residents and that it meets the needs of families and is arranged and supervised by the local authorities. Local authorities establish the schedules and practices for early childhood education and care.  

Applications for a place in a child daycare centre or in family daycare are submitted to the local authorities of the family’s municipality of residence four months before the place is needed. Where a parent unexpectedly finds a job or starts studying, their child will be granted a place in a child daycare centre or family daycare within a fortnight.

Early childhood education and care curriculum

The National Core Curriculum for Early Childhood Education and Care steers the implementation of early childhood education, and local curricula are drawn up on the basis of the Core Curriculum. The Finnish National Agency for Education decides on the core curriculum for early childhood education and care in accordance with the Early Childhood Education and Care Act.

A personal early childhood education plan is drawn up for each child at early education centres and family daycare premises. It consists of the objectives and measures to support the child's development, learning and wellbeing, and the need for special support where necessary.

The child's opinions and wishes must be asked when planning, implementing and assessing early childhood education and care. The child's parents or guardians must be allowed to take part and have a say in their child's early childhood education.

Pre-primary education

Finnish National Agency for Education:  Early childhood education and care (in Finnish)

Finnish National Agency for Education: National Core Curriculum for Early Childhood Education and Care (in Finnish)

Finnish National Agency for Education: National Core Curriculum for Pre-primary Education (in Finnish)